Fruits of the Spirit ...

Monday, July 25, 2016. The New Testament talks about the Holy Spirit of God. It is the spirit of healing, of forgiveness, of mercy. And the spirit is to come to those who believe in Christ Jesus. When you start your journey with Jesus, the risen Lord, his spirit comes into your life, your mind, your soul. And then, we are taken into the great adventure of faith …

God's Invitation …

The apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians about what he calls the “fruits” of the spirit. When you let the spirit govern your life, then these fruits start to grow. Let us read …

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal 5, 22)

These fruits of the spirit are quite interesting, fantastic, far reaching. Love is the first fruit mentioned hiere, but then also peace and patience and kindness, and many more! These are all characteristics of a loving mother or father, of someone who takes care of something or someone very valuable.

Tested Qualities …

You might be excited about this description of Paul, the great apostle. And these fruits of the spirit ARE fantastic. If you experience these, it is quite a great faith experience, which can happen step by step, day by day in your life.

But things will also be tested. You have your week points, the points where you are vulnerable. You have your points where love and patience is difficult for you. And they will be touched. You cannot survive with the fruits of the spirit without living in the spirit, without having the flesh crucified with its passions and desires. This is a path to go when the temptations come: he died for you, and you died with him to your old life, but your new life in Christ is beautiful and full of truth and love. It is all done in him and through him! Nothing else.

May I say that God is fantastic? He knows this world, he knows what is going on in it, he knows the suffering and the desperate need for truth and life! In Jesus he has created salvation, deep within mankind, deep within this creation, with new life and a spirit which is truly amazing. (Roland Potthast) ... more texts